Types of application letter Different application letters Speculative

Types of application letter

Different application letters • Speculative letters are sent as part of a speculative application together with a CV. • Covering letters accompany an application form or CV for an advertised job vacancy. • A letter of application is sometimes sent, rather than an application form or CV, in which case the letter should include the information you would put in a CV but presented in sentences and paragraphs.

A letter of application should sound positive and enthusiastic. It should be clearly structured to cover: 1. The kind of work you’re looking for 2. Why you want to do work experience with that organisation in particular. 3. Why you are suitable - emphasise your relevant skills, qualifications, experience and personal qualities. 4. It should be tailored to the specific organisation rather than a standard letter used for any application 4. Addressed to a named individual. Telephone the organisation and ask if you’re not sure who to send it to.

Outline structure of the letter • Your details • Name Address Phone Number Email Address • Employer Contact Information • Name Title Company Address • Date • Salutation Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name,

Bulk of the letter • First Paragraph The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the particular area of work experience you are applying for and how you found out about the company. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one. • Middle Paragraph(s) The next section of your application letter should describe what you have to offer the employer and why they should choose you! Mention specifically how your qualifications and skills will match the career. • Final Paragraph Conclude your application letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.

Ending of the letter • Complimentary Close • Yours sincerely, • Signature • Name printed out.

How to avoid email fails Here are some tips to get you emailing with confidence: Know your audience The way you address a potential employer or work colleague is obviously very different to the way you speak to a friend in a private message. With employers, spelling mistakes are a red flag, as are poor structure, excessive length and being too informal. Try making your message clearer, more concise, and appropriate for your audience. This will ensure that the person reading it gets the message and isn’t distracted from what it is you’re asking or telling them.

Start with a name Do you know the person by name? Have you met them? It’s always best to address a person by name if you know it. ‘Dear Elisabeth’ would be appropriate for someone you haven’t met or someone more senior, whereas ‘Hi Elisabeth” would be suitable for a familiar contact or a person on your team who you talk to regularly.

Get to the point, but gently • The workplace is a busy environment, and inboxes are often full of emails, so it’s best to make your point or request quickly and concisely. However, there’s a fine line between getting to the point and coming across as rude. • ‘Dear Karim, We need those files’ is too abrupt, whereas ‘Dear Karim, Hope this email finds you well, I’ve been asked to collect the files on the Cunningham project…’ comes across clearly and politely. •

Sign-off • If you opened with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ the correct formal sign-off is ‘Yours faithfully’ whereas a message to ‘Mr Davies’ should end with ‘Yours sincerely’. Less formal sign-offs such as a simple ‘Thank you’ are more appropriate for people you have existing work relationships with.

Check your tone • It’s important to understand that often what you write doesn’t always come across in the same way at the other end. Before you hit the send button on that massive email about a tricky subject: STOP. Go and do something else for a few minutes, then come back and read it over • It’s always a good idea to make sure that you’ve not been blunt or too casual and that what you intended to say is actually what it says on the screen. Also, remember to check your spelling and grammar.